1860 $2.50 Clark, Gruber & Co. MS(PCGS#10135)

The May 2013 ANA National Money Show

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

1227

等级

MS61

价格

79,917

详细说明

1860 Clark, Gruber & Co. $2.50 Gold. K-1. Rarity-4. MS-61 (PCGS). CAC. Rare in any Mint State grade and highly desirable as such. The obverse and reverse show greenish-gold luster and the dies generally defined the central devices. This lovely coin is free of all but minor signs of handling when closely examined. A very nice example.<br /> <br /> The firm of Clark, Gruber &amp; Co., Leavenworth, Kansas bankers, established a branch in Denver following discovery of gold deposits in the area, primarily in the mountains to the west. From that beginning was to grow Colorado's largest mint, an operation which subsequently laid the framework for the government mint in the same city. Partners were Austin M. Clark, Milton Edward Clark, and Emanuel Henry Gruber.<br /> <br /> Framework for the minting business was begun in December 1859 when Milton E. Clark journeyed to New York and Philadelphia to make arrangements in person to acquire coining and metal processing machinery. It is believed that Bailey &amp; Co., Philadelphia jewelers, made arrangements for the dies, possibly enlisting the services of Chief Engraver James B. Longacre at the Mint. The workmanship of the dies differs from one to another, and it is believed by the writer than more than one engraver was involved. <br /> <br /> In the spring of 1860 Austin Clark and Emanuel H. Gruber arrived in Denver and purchased several lots on the northwest corner of McGaa and F Streets, later to become Market and 16th streets. An imposing 2-story brick structure with a stone basement was set up. In April the machinery arrived by an ox-drawn wagon. By July 16th the building was complete inside and out, and coinage operations were ready to begin. Coinage commenced and was continued into 1861, as here. In 1862 the facility was purchased by the Treasury Department and designated as the Denver Mint. However, no coinage was done under federal auspices until 1906, and then in a new facility. In the meantime the erstwhile Clark, Grub